9 Countryside and agriculture, so you may
need to combine vocabulary from the two topics.
Topic 8 example Task
Transport delays and long journey times are a widespread phenomenon in many cities today. What are the causes of this problem, and how could the situation be improved? Explanation of the Task
This is an Ideas>Mixed>Causes/solutions type essay. It does not ask for your opinion, but
wants you to suggest some ideas about the causes of a problem situation and also some possible
solutions. You should introduce the topic, describe two or three causes, then two or three solutions,
and then summarise.
Task 2 sometimes mixes Cause/effect and Problem/solution Tasks in this way. You should
read the Task very carefully to see if it is a ‘mixed’ type. The word ‘problem’ does not
necessarily mean it is a Problem/solution Task!
Band 9 model essay
Transport is an essential part of
urban life, and lengthy journeys are frustrating and expensive
for those concerned. There appear to be two main causes of this, and several possible solutions, as
we will explain here.
Perhaps the main cause is the lack of
investment or funding for infrastructure in the form of
high-capacity public transport and increased road space for private vehicles. This means that too
many vehicles use the existing network, and
congestion is inevitable. We see this in most large cities
globally, such as London or Tokyo. Many
conurbations also lack finance for
transport hubs , such as
integrated road and rail
facilities which could connect public and
private transport , thus reducing
bottlenecks . A further cause seems to be the problem of
overcrowding in cities, whereby people
migrate from the
